Shaft hanger



(No Model.) 2 She'ets-Sheet 1'.

W. J. LANE.

SHAFT HANGER.

No, 367,304. Patented July 26, 188.7.

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. (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2..

w'. J. LANE.

SHAFT HANGER.

No. 367,304. Patented July 26, 1887 HwmW EZEEEEEIIJID Elm.- "ll lllllll llllllllll H m n I III I II IV mml m wu WMIIUHIIHIU E MW aymm UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. LANE, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO \V. H.

PATENT OFFICE.

FIELD, OF roar CHESTER, NEW YORK.

SHAFT-HANGER.

erncrr-rca-rron forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,304, dated July 26, 1887.

Application filed April 5, 1887. Serial K011313367. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WI LIAM J. LANE, of Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Shaft Hangers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to hangers for shafting. I have sought,first,to provide a form of hangerwhich will serve either as an overhead hanger, a post or bracket hanger, or as a floor-support for a shaft. At the same time I aim to provide forperfect freedom of the bearing under all circumstances, so'as to adapt it to the line of the shaft and to cause the bearing through to be equal the entire length of the journalboxes, Whether the shaft be in its normal position or be temporarily sprung by the strain; of the belt, or from any other cause, the bearing being always free to adj ust itself, but never looked in position. I have also sought to enlarge the range of adjustment of the position of the shaft in respect to its distance from overhead timbers, or from the post or floor, or other permanentsupport,whatever it may be;

further, for convenience in taking down or adjusting the shafting or for readjusting it to precisely the same position as before removal. I have also sought simplicity of construction and great strength,combined with great lightness and consequent cheapness of construction as compared with hangers heretofore known for equivalent sizes of shafting. I have also sought to provide an improved attachment for the drip-cup, for the purpose of permitting easy and safe removal without liability to spill the contents.

In my improved hanger the journal-bearing is, like others of its class, pivoted and hung to oscillate in two planes at right angles to each other, and my invention does not include, broadly, this feature. The form in which I havee mbodied it is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a. side view of my improved hanger arranged to be supported from overhead. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view through the journal and the supporting-bracket there for. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the hanger, the parts being in the position to be supported from a post or wall. Fig. 4. represents in vperspective the cup for catching thedrippings.

Figs. 5 and 6 show views of a divided box.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a base-plate, preferably of cast-iron, formed with slots at a for bolts, whereby the base-plate may be secured to overhead timbers, to an upright post, or to the floor. Slots (1 a may-be ofany convenient length, and are for the adjustment of the plate upon the supportingsurl'ace. I11

this plate, preferably at or near the center of its length,is fixed a cylindrical stud or post, B,

a which should be of wrought-iron or steel, but

may be of any suitable material, and of a diameter for general use'equal to the diameter of the shafting to be supported by the hanger. The drop of the hanger, or the maximum distanceat which the shafting may be held from the fixed support, is determined by the length of the stud B, which may be varied to suit the position for which the hanger is intended. Abracket, C, is formed with a curve fitted to receive the journal-box, and a socket or sleeve fitted to the stud B, on which it may slide. This bracket is adjusted and held in position in respect to the plate A by means of one or two collars, D, secured to the stud by set-screws d. For general use as an overhead hanger, and where the pull of the belts as well as the weight of the shaft are in one direction, one collar is sufficient; but in other cases two may be used; When held in place on the stud by one or both of these collars, the bracket is free to swing in a plane which cuts the axis of the stud at' right angles. a

The j ournal-box proper (marked E) is swiveled to the bracket by' means of a conical point, f, formed upon or fixed to the inner face of the bracket on one side and fitting a corresponding hole in the center of I the jourcumfcrential line, a quarter-turn distance from the first, to form bearings at right angles to those afforded by the first.

If the hanger be put up as an overhead hanger, then the bracket would be arranged, as shown in Fig. 1, with the concave or hollow side of the bracket above and with the journal-box supported within by means of the conical depressions e c and the points fitting therein; but ifit be used as a post or bracket hanger, with the plate A attached to the vertical surface, as shown in Fig. 3, the bracket would be reversed in position on the stud and would be allowed to hang below the stud. The journal-box in this case would be pivoted by means of the depressions c 0, so as to keep the oil cups or holes g above the shaft.

If the hanger be used as a floorsnpport, the same relative position last described of the stud and bracket would be maintained; but the screw and fixed point must be placed in the depressions e c in thejourual-box to keep the oil-cups above the shaft.

It will be observed that the bracket is capablc of two adjustments, one longitudinally of the shaft, on which it may be adjusted and held at any point by one or both of the setscrews. The range of this vertical adjustment on the stud B is also much greater than in any other class ofhangcrs of which 1 have knowledge,and particularly those referred to below, as the bracket with its shaft can be run right up in contact with the plate A within about three inches of its supporting-surlhee, or it may be lowered an indefinite distance, depending on the length of the stud, which may be varied to change the range without changing the castings. Vhen so adjusted and held, it is capable, further, of automatic adjustment by means of its socket turning upon the shaft, and it is not liable to displacement; and in this respect it difl'ers essentially from those brackets for shaft-hangers which are provided wit-l1 a stem held by means of nuts in a socket upon a fixed bracket. After the shaft has once been adjusted on the stud, it, with its box, may be re moved with case by simply slackening the screws d, and may be as easily replaced in the same position with absolute accuracy. The stud which bears the greatest strain is adapted easily to be made of wrought-iron or steel, and this is not only much stronger and better, but is lighter and less in the way.

Another distinguishing feature-the socket on the bracket-is simple in its form, and is adapted to be swiveled on the stud to sustain the strain and to fit the various positions, as described.

In order to avoid the annoyance, time, and care ordinarily required to remove the dripcups as now suspended, I have provided hooksupports for the cup adapted to hook over the journal-box. The cup may be of any ordinary form. To it I fix hooks t t, which are shaped to fit over the box and to hold the cup under the box. It may be removed simply by lifting it and moving the hooks aside from the box without risk of spilling the oil on the workman and with little time and care.

The journal-box may be of any suitable form adapted to be swiveled on the bracket.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the box is shown as made in two parts. The employment of this form of box is found desirable, as by removing one of the sections the shaft may more readily be removed. In these figures just referred to it will be noticed that cars or lugs33are shown as formed upon the lower half of the box and projecting upwardly therefrom. The upper portion of the box is cut away sufficiently, and the lugs are adapted to fill the space thus formed and present a substantially flush surface. The depressions for the bearing-points are formed in these lugs and in exact line with the center of the shaft. Connection between the upper and lower halves is effected by means of the lugs and screws 4: 4, Fig. By this construction I make provision for maintaining the perfect balance of the parts and freedom of movement without tending to separate the box. It will be understood that these depressions in the lugs are brought into action when the hanger is used as an overhead or floor hanger. The upper half of the box and the shaft itself may be removed without disturbing or slackening the lower portion of the box from the bracket. In some cases the upper portion of the box may be dispensed with, the shaft seating itself in the hollow of the lower portion.

I claim as my invention- 1. Ashaft-hanger consisting of a plain cylindrical stud fitted to asupport, a bracket having a sleeve fitted to the stud with adjustable collars for holding it in any desired position 011 the stud, said collars having plain interior surfaces, and journal-box swiveled on the bracket, all substantially as described.

2. In a shaft-hanger, the supportingstud, the curved bracket swiveled thereon, and a journal-box pivoted on the bracket and having oil-cups secured thereto, the said journatbox being provided with depressions e c c 0, whereby the journal-box may be used either upon a ceiling or wall hanger without altering the position of the oil-cups, substantially as described.

3. In a shaft-hanger, the supporting-stud, and the curved bracket swiveled thereon and provided with a fixed stud upon one side and an adjustable stud upon the other, combined with ajournal-box provided with depressions adapted to said studs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. LANE.

Witnesses:

JOHN G. LANE, JOHN M. James. 

